INSIDE BINGHAMTON UNIVERSITY

Debaters bring home the sword

At West Point’s 39th invitational debate tournament, held late last month, juniors Jacob Gartman, left, and Matt Malia, both of Cortlandt Manor, defeated a team from Cornell University on a 2-1 decision. They took home the sword — West Point’s traveling trophy — for the first time in Binghamton history. Unlike most debates, the finals at West Point weren’t judged by other coaches. Instead, the panel included a U.S. District Court judge and two Army colonels who teach constitutional and military law at West Point.

Binghamton’s debate team has won three of four tournaments it attended this school year. The team, which was ranked first in the nation at the start of the season in September, now sits in second place.